Vacancy Announcement

Job title:   Neonatologist Work Location: Kono Department: Clinical Reports to: Medical Director Line Management No Req #:4304Application Status External Advert

Organisation Profile 

Partners In Health (PIH) is an international health organization relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. PIH partners with local governments to build local capacity and works closely with impoverished communities to deliver high-quality health care, address the root causes of illness, train providers, advance research, and advocate for global policy change. Our delivered services in the field are based in our partnership with the Governments and Ministries of Health and the support to education, training and mentorship to Health care workers and students is one of our pillars for the Health care system strengthening.

PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world.

Our Work In Sierra Leone:

Partners In Health (PIH) began supporting the government of Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola epidemic in October 2014. Recognizing the large need for continued investments in the health system after Ebola, PIH is committed to long-term health system strengthening in support of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), guided by the same principles as our emergency response and our work around the world: public sector accompaniment, integrated and comprehensive services, social justice, nimbleness and flexibility, partnership, community ownership, and evidence-based interventions. In the aftermath of the epidemic, PIH is committed to supporting the delivery of comprehensive health services in Sierra Leone, from the community level to the health center and to referral hospitals.

Position OverviewA board-certified neonatologist to work as part of the pediatrics department and within the Maternal Center of Excellence at Koidu Government Hospital. This position at PIH for an experienced neonatologist is to help manage this service area at MCOE and other PIH-supported healthcare facilities in Sierra Leone. The Neonatologist will be based at the Koidu Government Hospital (KGH)/ MCOE in Kono District to provide bedside clinical care and services to the neonates. He or she will work closely with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation on the development and implementation of clinical guidelines, care delivery systems improvement related to neonatal and child health services, medical education initiatives, as well as publishable quality improvement and research studies. This individual will work with the PIH-SL clinical leadership team and provide support to the clinical leadership and the broader PIH leadership to advance PIH’s core mission of health systems strengthening in Sierra Leone.Main duties and responsibilities 

Clinical care and teaching (80%)

• Daily round
• Bedside clinical care and services
• Clinical consultations with other clinical units, as needed
• Bedside teaching and mentoring
• Provide high-quality clinical neonatal care services in the neonatal and pediatrics wards
• Work with an existing multidisciplinary team composed of both PIH-SL and MOHS staff including: consultant pediatricians, medical officers, CHO, nursing staff and visiting clinicians and pediatric residents from the MOHS and other institutions of higher learning.
•  Work collaboratively with the obstetric/ maternity team and Primary Health Care Units (PHUs), to improve perinatal care.
• Work closely with the pediatric team in providing adequate clinical support in the general pediatrics (pediatric emergency ward, general pediatrics and malnutrition unit) as the need arises.
• Training and supervising junior medical and nursing teams that work with him/her and will devote time to this activity regularly.
•  Develop and implement teaching rounds.
• Provide bedside mentoring to junior staff and lower cadres working in the unit.
• Work with department of clinical education on the development and delivery of a longitudinal didactic curriculum for physicians, nurses and clinical officers.
• Conduct regular and rigorous case reviews to share experience and good practices
• The post holder will be expected to undertake educational outreach visits and provide support/advice to other facilities providing any level of neonatal services s within Kono region (PHUs) or in Partners in Health supported facilities in Sierra Leone as may be required.
• Quality Improvement and Research: Develop and support quality improvement and research initiatives in neonatology and peripartum care. Organize mortality/morbidity reviews, review for service utilization data and support the development of abstracts and manuscripts to be submitted to academic journals, etc. Optimize patient care through the effective interpretation and use of electronic medical records and other data sources.

Leadership and administration (20%)

• Clinical leadership of a 39-bed neonatal unit with daily rounds and manage neonatal cases according to national and international clinical guidelines.
• Work with other members of the clinical leadership team in development and implementation of clinical governance including clinical audit and risk management/patient safety processes, maternal death and surveillance review / pediatric-neonatal death and surveillance review’s weekly/monthly meetings.
• Attend leadership meetings within MCOE and KGH with both PIH-SL and MOHS
• Participate in the collection and review of patient data to inform data-driven quality improvement and researchactivities.
• Analyze and report data  monthly for service utilization, morbidity and mortality profile of the neonatal unit
• Analyze and report gaps in resources for care provision
• Develop and utilize quality improvement projects within NICU and delivery room.
• Participate in the effective and appropriate management of resources within the department.
•  Attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings of various types as appropriate within the hospital and neonatal unit.
• Support systems improvement effort for the neonatology unit by assessing and communicating gaps identified in processes, staffing and medical commodities; also, by being proactive working with the biomedical team to ensure that materials/equipment available at the unit are serviced regularly and always kept functional.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and HarassmentAt Partners In Health, we are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including our patients, families and community members – as well as our staff are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Partners In Health’s PSEAH policy. Partner In Health will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.  By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.Education and Work Experience Requirements 

• Medical degree (MD or equivalent) with advanced training in Pediatrics and Neonatology
• Board certification required. Fellowship/Board certification in West African College of Physicians  preferred.
• Valid medical license and registration with the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Council.
• Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience in neonatology, with leadership and supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience in neonatal intubation/ mechanical ventilation is an asset
• Ability to insert/ place a central line is an advantage
• Proficiency in English; knowledge of local languages is an asset
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong commitment to providing compassionate care to neonates and their families.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team and adapt to a resource-limited healthcare environment.
• Demonstrated experience using patient data for decision-making (e.g., participation in quality improvement initiatives, monitoring and evaluation activities)
• Experience using electronic medical records or other digital health systems desired
• Proven commitment to social justice and passion for serving the poor and vulnerable
• Ability to live in Kono – Sierra Leone full-time
• Partners In Health is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Social JusticeWe are a global health and social justice organization that responds to the moral imperative to provide high-quality health care globally to those who need it most. We strive to ease suffering by placing patients at the center of all care, bringing the benefits of modern medicine to all.Method of applicationInterested candidates are required to apply through our website: www.pih.org/employment.   In your application, please ensure to include names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of three (3) referees not later than 12:00pm GMT (Midnight) on Tuesday 1st October 2024 

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